Joseph Masi and Luke Hatfield discussed all things West Bromwich Albion on the most recent edition of the Express and Star’s Baggies Broadcast podcast and during the show, they spent some time talking about the Baggies’ interest in Rennes attacker M’Baye Niang.
The Senegal international joined Rennes from Torino on a permanent deal back in July 2019 for a transfer fee of £13.5m and according to Transfermarkt, the attacker’s market value is also currently £13.5m.
With reports in recent weeks claiming that the West Midlands club ‘are desperate to add a further attacker to their ranks’ in the current transfer window, alongside Niang being reportedly ‘desperate‘ to join the Baggies, Masi shed some light on Albion’s interest in the Rennes forward during this recent edition of The Express and Star’s Baggies Broadcast podcast and the journalist suggested that he may be an option for Albion on loan.
He said: “So, I’ve put it to a few people today and yeah, there is interest there from Albion. From what I understand, there’s been contact between Albion and Rennes about him – where he is on the list is anyone’s guess.
“It looks very much like Karlan Grant is top of the list. I know Andre Gray is on that list and high up and seen as a very realistic alternative for Grant, and now, from what I’m told today, so is Niang on loan.”
Would Niang be a good signing for West Brom?
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So, as can be seen in what the journalist had to say about Albion’s interest in the 25-year-old attacker, it seems that Niang is seen as a potential backup target for West Brom, should they fail to sign Grant from Huddersfield Town.
This comes after Niang has enjoyed a couple of positive seasons in Ligue 1, hitting double figures in the league in terms of goals in both the 2018/19 season and the 2019/20 season.
Last term, he was the top league goalscorer for a Rennes side that finished in third place in Ligue 1 and earned a place in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League.
So, with that in mind, it may be understandable why the Baggies are said to be targeting him on loan, as his form in France’s top tier in recent years may indicate that he would be an upgrade on the club’s current forwards, with no Albion player scoring more than 10 goals in England’s second tier last season.